Fast Facts: Moose vs. Grand Rapids – Feb. 20

The Manitoba Moose saw their four-game winning streak come to an end last night. The team did extend its point streak to six straight after a 5-4 shootout loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Moose fell behind 4-2, before two power play goals saw Manitoba tie the contest at 4-4. That score held all the way through overtime despite 10 shots from the Griffins in the extra frame. The teams clash again this afternoon on Super Hero Day at Canada Life Centre. Tickets are available at MooseHockey.com/TICKETS.

Monday Matinee

Manitoba has made a tradition of playing a matinee game on Louis Riel Day, playing in the afternoon four times since the 2017-18 season. The Moose dropped the contest last season against Milwaukee by a score of 4-2, with Jeff Malott and Leon Gawanke both scoring goals in the defeat. Dating back to the 2017-18 season, Manitoba holds a
1-3-0-0 mark in those contests and has suited up in front of an average crowd of 7401. The contest against the Griffins also marks the first time the Moose face off against a team other than the Admirals in their  Louis Riel Day matinee.

Starring on Special Teams

In Manitoba’s shootout loss yesterday, the team was able to convert three times on the power play for the first time this season. It was the 11th time this campaign Manitoba recorded two or more power play goals in a single game. The squad has a record of 8-1-2-1 when scoring at least twice on the power play. With the three goals last night, the Manitoba power play is ranked second in the league at 24.7%. Meanwhile Manitoba’s penalty kill knocked off all five opportunities it faced in the contest. The Moose have killed off 20 of 22 shorthanded situations over the past five games. That pushes the team to fourth in the AHL at 84.5%. Manitoba and Springfield are the only two teams in the top-five  of the league’s power play and penalty kill rankings.

Pacing the Defencemen

Leon Gawanke scored a power play goal yesterday evening. The marker was the defenceman’s 13th of the season and fourth over his past 10 contests. The goal puts Gawanke in a three-way tie for first among AHL blue liners. The Berlin, Germany product also paces all AHL defenders with six  power play markers. Gawanke, who is up to 25 points (13G, 12A) in 45 games this season, racked up 15 total goals over his first three seasons in antlers.

Griffin Tamer

Goaltender Oskari Salminen has played some of his best hockey against the Grand Rapids Griffins this season. The rookie netminder has surrendered just three goals in 170 minutes of action against the Griffins. That translates to a 1.06 goals-against average, and Salminen features a .964 save percentage against Grand Rapids. The Kotka, Finland native is 2-0-1 against Manitoba’s divisional rivals this season. He made 21 saves on 22 shots last night, including 10 saves in overtime. Overall, Salminen features a 13-9-3 record, supported by a 2.95 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.

Who's Trending?

Wyatt Bongiovanni recorded two points (1G, 1A) in yesterday’s shootout loss. It was the second multi-point game of the season for the forward, who now has 12 points (9G, 3A) over 44 games. Bongiovanni, who is in his rookie AHL season, also sits with four power play goals, which is fourth on the team.